ARMDSS: Dissertation

Module code: ARMDSS

Module provider: Archaeology; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 60

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2 / Summer

Module convenor: Dr Wendy Matthews, email: w.matthews@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of this module is to develop advanced high-level skills in critical evaluation and understanding of current research problems, and method and theory, and in designing, planning and implementing a major independent research project, through writing a dissertation of 20,000 words.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify and appraise critically current research problems in archaeology
2. Demonstrate originality and practical ability in research design, a written proposal and implementation
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the correct statistical approaches necessary to analyse your data
4. Demonstrate oral communication skills in structured group discussions, as well as in a formal presentation at the Masters Conference
5. Organise independent data collection, analysis and interpretation
6. Structure written arguments and articulate complex issues clearly

Module content

Dissertation research areas are wide-ranging and include critical evaluation of primary and/or published sources, and their relation to current problems at the forefront of archaeological method and theory. Research methods and approaches may include original archaeological fieldwork, in-depth analysis of primary data, and/or application of innovative approaches and theories. The research subject areas and approaches may relate to the Masters Option modules, or to other areas which can be supervised by Department staff, who have a wide range of expertise.

Preparatory workshops will introduce you to strategies and skills required for successfully completing a Masters-level dissertation. The workshop sessions will take you step-by-step through how to choose a research topic and write a research proposal. Structured group critique and discussion of past dissertations are also undertaken, and you will be introduced to statistical approaches to aid your data analysis. You will also write a dissertation research proposal (5%).

Creating and structuring independent research, conference presentations, applying for a PhD and writing papers for publication will also be reviewed and key skills highlighted. You will make an oral presentation on your Dissertation research at the Department Masters Conference (5%). Part-time students will attend the Workshops and develop their Proposals in their first year.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This subject-specific module will be mainly taught by members of Departmental staff and emphasises the importance of acquiring high quality research skills and applying these to archaeological questions, as well as other areas of professional employment. Dissertation workshops and critiques will be run by different members of staff, drawing on experience of a range of research areas and approaches.

You will receive individual supervision on dissertation research design, implementation and writing, from one or two members of staff with relevant expertise. There will be a set number of compulsory meetings and writing deadlines to guide you through the process.

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Written and oral feedback on the dissertation proposal and oral presentation during the second semester, and detailed feedback on the dissertation report following the examiners meeting in the following Autumn.

Reassessment

Additional costs